Inyo offers a wide variety of terrain for the cross country skier. Beautiful scenery, dramatic mountain peaks, open meadows, and quiet snowcovered forests await the skier. The area's relatively abundant snowfall provides a cross country ski season which usually lasts from mid-November through early May. Cross country ski opportunities range from beginner to seasoned mountaineer in settings including groomed trails, ungroomed marked trails, and untracked terrain.
Groomed Track Skiing
Groomed trail skiing is becoming increasingly popular throughout the country. Properly groomed trails make skiing far easier, enabling people to travel farther and faster with less work Groomed trail skiing is the best way to develop proper skiing technique as varying snow conditions and trail breaking are not encountered.
There are two fee-based cross country ski centers in the Mammoth area: Tamarack and Sierra Meadows. Tamarack, located in the spectacular Mammoth Lakes Basin offers over 30 kilometers of groomed track, groomed skating lanes, lessons, rentals, lodging, and meals. Sierra Meadows, located just south of the town of Mammoth Lakes, offers 25 kilometers of groomed track, lessons, rentals, meals, and dinner sleigh rides. This ski center, located on a large meadow, offers spectacular views of the Sherwin Range, the White Mountains, and Mammoth Mountain. Additional information and brochures are available by calling Tamarack at 934-2442 and Sierra Meadows at 934-6161.
North of Mammoth, the Forest Service grooms a variety of trails at Deadman Summit and the South June Lake Junction. Both are accessed of US 395 between Mammoth and Lee Vining.
Blue Diamond Trails
The blue diamond ski trail system consists of 30 kilometers of non-groomed ski trails marked frequently with blue diamonds in trees and signs at each trail junction. Refer to the attached map for trail locations.
Shady Rest Trails (Map) (7.4 kilometers of Loops) Beginner. There are three main loops which begin either at the Mammoth Ranger Station or the Shady Rest Winter Trailhead and wind through a forest of Jeffrey Pines. These trails are frequently skied and track exists on them much of the time.
The A Loop can be started at either the front of the Ranger Station or at the Shady Rest Winter Trailhead. By using the A Trail Shortcut the distance for this loop can be reduced by 40%. The B Loop starts approximately 200 feet west of the winter closure point on the Sawmill Cutoff Road on a road accessing the Forest Service employee housing area. The C Loop crosses the snowcovered Sawmill Road at two locations and connects the A Loop and B Loop. All of the loops contain short steep sections which will challenge the novice beginner skier. The beginner can negotiate these sections by making wide traverses or by sidestepping.
Knolls Trail (7.2 kilometers One Way) Intermediate. This trail crosses the Mammoth Knolls north of the town of Mammoth Lakes. It winds through a Jeffrey Pine and lodgepole forest and in several locations offers views of distant peaks such as the Minarets and the Sherwins. It may be skied from two different directions. Starting on the Mammoth Scenic Loop road 1.5 miles north of Highway 203 eliminates most of the elevation gain on this trip, but intermediate skiing skills are required to negotiate a long, somewhat steep descent, where the trail joins the 'C' loop of the Shady Rest Trail system about 1/2 mile north of the Shady Rest Winter Trailhead. Skiing this trail in the other direction means a lot of climbing, but a beginner skier, in fairly good shape, can complete the trip. This trail offers two side trails, the .3 kilometer Mammoth Town Overlook trail, and the .6 kilometer Clyde Minaret Vista trail.
Scenic Loop Trail (2.6 kilometers one way) Intermediate to Advanced. This short trail begins on the Mammoth Scenic Loop across the road from the Knolls Trail and joins the Inyo Craters trail .3 kilometers from the Inyo Craters Trailhead. This trail contains two steep, but short descents, which can be negotiated by traversing.
Inyo Craters Trail (2.1 kilometers One Way) Beginner to Intermediate. This trail begins at the Inyo Craters Trailhead on the Mammoth Scenic Loop Road. The trail provides access to the Inyo Craters, two small volcanic craters with lakes at the bottom. The first 2/3 of the distance is flat and suitable for a beginning skier. The last portion of the trail contains some short but very steep climbs and steep descents on the return trip!
Earthquake Fault Trail (7.3 kilometers One Way) Intermediate to Advanced. This trail begins on Highway 203 1.8 miles west of the intersection with Lake Mary Road. The trailhead offers limited parking in the winter with a plowed area just downhill and across the road from the trails beginning point. Remember that parking along highway 203 is not permitted between 1 0 p.m. and 6 a.m. This trail ascends to a saddle north of the Earthquake Fault and then descends into the Dry Creek drainage and meets the Inyo Craters trail .8 kilometers from the Mammoth Scenic Loop Road. There are a number of steep, narrow descents and this combined with the infrequent use of this trail, calls for strong intermediate or advanced skiing skills. Heavier, mountaineering or off track skis are recommended. Approximately 60% of this trail follows a designated 'orange diamond' snowmobile trail.
Red Cones Trail (4.2 kilometers One Way) Strong Intermediate to Advanced. Not Shown on Map This trail begins at Horseshoe Lake at the west end of the Lakes Basin. Free access to this trail through the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center is on a free public use corridor on the east and south side of Lake Mary Road. This trail climbs to Mammoth Pass then descends through a large old growth Red Fir forest and ends at a formation called the Red Cones on a bench high above the San Joaquin River. It makes several rather steep descents through trees and advanced skiing skills with heavier mountaineering skis are recommended. Much of this infrequently traveled trail is located in the Ansel Adams wilderness. Strong winter outdoor skills are also recommended.
Other Areas
Almost anywhere with snow on the ground offers opportunity for the cross country skier. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Cottonwood Lakes (13 miles ) Intermediate. This tour is a great introduction to backcountry ski touring, combining a high trailhead with very gentle terrain. Once in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin, the views are alpine and there are many opportunities for day tours and bowl skiing.
Sabrina Area (33 miles) Advanced. This tour begins at the spectacular Lake Sabrina. After skiing around the drained lakeshore, follow the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek as it climbs up benches to the beautiful Blue Lake. You even can link up with the main route by skiing over the low saddle to the west and dropping down the very steep slopes to Moonlight Lake.
Rock Creek Area (20 miles) Intermediate/Advanced. This canyon has long been considered the finest in the range for backcountry skiing. Treasure Lakes, at the base of Mt. Dade and Bear Creek Spire, is arguably the finest spring base camp location in the Sierra.
Hot Creek (4.9 kilometers Round Trip) Beginner. This route follows the road into Hot Creek from the end of the plowing near the Hot Creek Ranch to the Hot Creek Geothermal Area. This route is shared by skiers, hikers, snowmobilers, and snowshoers. Conditions can be highly variable depending on the amount of snowpack present. Inquire at the Ranger Station for current conditions.
Minaret Vista (4. 9 kilometers Round Trip) Beginner. This route begins at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Park in the ski area parking lot and take the shuttle to the main lodge. The route follows the upper portion of Highway 203 which is snowcovered in the winter. Follow the relatively flat route located; directly west of Chair 11 and adjacent to the entrance to the Mammoth Mountain Chalets. The first 1/4 mile of this route follows a ski trail where downhill skiers are descending, so stay to the side of this trail. The route is shared by walkers, snowmobiles, and a dog sled operation which takes people up to Minaret Vista. The view from the vista is impressive. The Minarets, Banner and Ritter Peaks, and the upper San Joaquin River drainage can be seen. The narrow, steep road beyond the vista descends 800 feet in the first 2.5 miles and crosses a major avalanche path. It should only be attempted by experienced winter travelers.
Additional Information
For additional information regarding cross country skiing in the Mammoth Lakes vicinity contact the Mammoth Ranger Station on Highway 203 at the east end of the town of Mammoth Lakes at (619) 924-5500. For information regarding cross country skiing north of the Mammoth Scenic Loop and U.S. 395 junction contact the Mono Lake Ranger Station in Lee Vining on Highway 120 at (619) 647-6525. South of McGee Mountain contact the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop on U.S. 395 at (619) 873-2500.
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